Operation Celebration: Nursing Graduation Party Ideas

Celebrate the nursing graduate in your life.

Marcella Breglia

Contributor

Scrub in and celebrate your new nurses in style with our list full of the best nursing graduation party ideas! We’re prescribing everything from medical themed decorations to entertainment ideas that will definitely raise your pulse with excitement. Honor the incredible achievements of your nursing graduates in a way that's as memorable as the journey to their degree.

With a touch of medical humor and a healthy dose of good vibes, we have all the life saving party ideas you’ll need to make sure this celebration is one for the books. So, get ready to party your heart out and celebrate your success with these unique nursing graduation party ideas. Don’t forget to use our handy graduation party planning checklist to help every step of the way.

Pro Tip: Find more inspiration for the graduate with our nursing graduation party ideas Pinterest board.

Keep reading for our top nursing graduation party ideas…

Nursing Graduation Party Entertainment Ideas

Inject some extra fun into the celebration with special entertainment! With everything from photo booths to mixologists, we have plenty of ideas for a nursing graduation party that are sure to bring the adrenaline. 

Scrub in for a Selfie Photo Booth

nursing graduation party - photo boothVendor: You Got Lucki 360 Video Booth & Social Photo Booth 

Create the perfect photo opportunity with themed balloons, backdrops, and props that match the nursing theme! Guests will be able to download files or take home copies of their shots to remember their special nurses.  

Find a Photo Booth

Rx Mixologist

nursing graduation party - bartenderVendor: The Happy Traveler Mobile Bar

Hire a professional bartender, or a Dr. Feel Good, for your nursing graduation party. Make their nurse graduation party an adrenaline-pumping affair with professional drinks to celebrate the big accomplishment of surviving nursing school.

Find a Bartender

Dr. DJ

nursing graduation party - DJVendor: Sereena The DJ

Get the nursing graduation party started with an energetic DJ. Leave it to them to find the pulse of the party because nothing breathes life into the celebration like a good playlist while dancing next to your favorite soon-to-be medical professionals.

Find a DJ

Music Medics Live Band

nursing graduation party - live bandVendor: Annika & The Earthlings

Hire a music medic, or a live band for your nurse graduation party! Live bands will be able to interact with guests, play original songs, and take requests so the graduate will be able to hear all of their favorite music. Choose from cover bands and tributes, to decades bands and solo artists for your nursing graduation party.

Find a Live Band

Nursing Graduation Party Food Ideas

Guests will need to take a dose of delicious treats and eats during the nursing graduation party. Take inspiration from these snacks that fit the theme and nurse graduation party ideas perfectly. These delicious ideas are a prescription for success, just make sure you serve them with sterile utensils.

Pigs in Bandages

nursing graduation party - pigs in bandagesPhoto: Brent Hofacker/shutterstock.com

Cast and bandaged, these pastry wrapped hot dogs are just the party appetizer for your nurse graduation party. Pigs in a blanket are comfort food, the right serving of fun, and will add to the party theme perfectly. Don’t forget to serve with blood (ketchup) for dipping!

Post-Op Popcorn

nursing graduation party - post-op popcornPhoto: Jennifer Tatum/shutterstock.com

Popcorn is always a crowd favorite, so why not book a food cart to prescribe this party treat? You can also include different toppings like cheese powder, chocolate, and sprinkles so guests can customize this nursing graduation party snack.

M&M Pills

nursing graduation party - M&M pillsPhoto: Angelina Zinovieva/shutterstock.com

The easiest way to satisfy your guests' sweet tooth is to offer snackable and delicious M&Ms! With a play on the theme, you can label them happy pills because that is exactly the effect they will have on your guests. You can also fill the candy table with clogged arteries (Twizzlers), vitamins (jelly beans), and Hershey kisses to fix your boo-boos.

Surgical S’mores

nursing graduation party - surgical s'moresPhoto: Marielen Cestari Baldino/shutterstock.com

This is another delicious treat that will have everyone indulging during the nursing graduation party. You’ll need all the classic ingredients featuring marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate, but you can also get creative by using peanut butter cups, cookies, and more.

Syringe Donuts

nursing graduation party - syringe donutsPhoto: BM Creative Works/shutterstock.com

Inject the medical theme into your celebration with syringe jelly donuts. The oozy and delicious treats will fit in perfectly with this milestone celebration dessert spread. You can also inject donuts with chocolate sauce, peanut butter, or pudding to offer a variety. 

Nursing Graduation Party Drink Ideas

Raise a toast to the newest members of the medical field with these nurse graduation party ideas including fun drink containers and themed cocktails. These beverages will keep the celebration spirits high while celebrating the nurse’s hard work!

Blood Transfusion Punch

nursing graduation party - blood transfusion punchPhoto: Kolpakova Svetlana/shutterstock.com

The perfect way to quench your thirst on a hot summer day is with a blood transfusion punch. The deep red punch is sure to be a hit among guests at your nurse graduation party! This can be fruit punch, Shirley Temple, or a Dirty Shirley for the guests over 21.

Shot Syringes

nursing graduation party - shot syringesPhoto: viobio via Funsubstance

This party treat is the trick to make sure everyone gets their necessary shots. Get plastic syringes on Amazon and fill with your choice of beverage or favorite Jello shot recipe. This will be the only time your nurses will administer shots that leave people begging for another! 

IV and Blood Bag Drink Pouches

nursing graduation party - IV and blood bag drink pouchesPhoto: Sugar and Soul.co

Fill these medical-themed IV bags or blood bags with your favorite drinks for a playful detail at your nurse graduation party. Guests will love the humor of sipping from these IV bag-inspired concoctions, after all, they are for hydration. Browse these drink containers on Etsy for custom options.

Urine Sample Lemonade

nursing graduation party - urine sample lemonadePhoto: Olyina V/shutterstock.com

Don’t let the name fool you, this drink will be delicious! Simply whip up a big batch of lemonade and label it “urine sample.” Use your favorite classic recipe or feel free to spike it with your choice of alcohol.

Nursing Graduation Party Decoration Ideas

Transform your space into a celebration fit for healthcare heroes! Lucky for you we have just the prescription you need with these decoration ideas for a nursing graduation party.

Prescription Bottle String Lights

nursing graduation party - prescription bottle strong lightsPhoto: Crafting a Green World

Illuminate the night with a touch of healthcare charm using prescription bottle fairy lights! These creative decorations add a magical glow to the party and are easy to DIY using bottles from Amazon and strong lights.

Eyesight Chart Signage

nursing graduation party - eyesight chart signagePhoto: vtwinpixel/shutterstock.com

Guide your guests with a clever twist using eyesight chart signage at your nurse graduation party. Have it read whatever you please like a simple congratulations or a fun way to label the stations you plan to set up.

BSN Backdrop

nursing graduation party - BSN backdrop

Create the most perfect photo-op for the nurses to celebrate their new title by having it as a focal point at the nursing graduation party. Browse different backdrops on Amazon that will add to the decor and be the perfect background for an Instagram picture.

Stethoscopes

nursing graduation party - stethoscopesPhoto: KucherAV/shutterstock.com

Every nurse needs a stethoscope, so incorporate this medical tool into your centerpieces. Wrap it around a vase of flowers, place it on the table with scattered confetti, or even have little plastic ones guests can take home as a party favor.

Nursing Graduation Party Game and Activity Ideas

From medical-themed challenges that test people’s skills to heartwarming activities that celebrate their journey, these ideas for a nursing graduation party will add an extra dose of fun to your celebration.

Leave your Prescription for Success

nursing graduation party - prescription for successPhoto: Savanevich Viktar/shutterstock.com

A sweet addition to any graduation party is to include a station for guests to give tips and tricks for the new grad. Either have a notebook, pictures, or individual pieces of paper with different colored markers and pens. For a nurse, it would be a missed opportunity to not call this advice station, “prescriptions for success.” 

Rx Pong

nursing graduation party - Rx pongPhoto: View Apart/shutterstock.com

College is the end of an era, so the only way to properly say goodbye is with the classic college game of pong. Prescribe the fun and call it RX Pong, even consider adding bandages to the red cups for a medical touch. 

Bedpan Bean Bag Toss

nursing graduation party - bedpan bean bag tossPhoto: valbunny/shutterstock.com

Test your aim with the Bedpan Toss game. Set it up just like corn hole with bedpans and bean bags for a creative backyard game. This is the perfect activity to keep everyone entertained at your nursing graduation party!

Find more graduation party ideas here on The Bash.

Published on 2/19/2024